Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant
Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant (or Koodankulam NPP or KKNPP) is a nuclear power station in Koodankulam in the Tirunelveli district of the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Construction on the plant began on 31 March 2002,[1]but faced several delays due to the fishermen's objection.
Unit 1 was synchronised with the southern power grid on 22 October 2013. The original cost of the two units was ₹13,171 crore, but it was later revised to ₹ 17,270 crore ($2.6 billion). Russia advanced a credit of ₹ 6,416 crore ($0.97 billion) to both the units.
In 2015, Nuclear Power Corporation Ltd (NPCIL) announced a price of ₹ 4.29/kW·h (6.4 ¢/kW·h) for energy delivered from Kudankulam nuclear power plant.
The ground-breaking ceremony for construction of units 3 & 4 was performed on 17 February 2016. Work is expected to begin in April 2016. Due to operators and suppliers requirement to insure the two following units, at ₹39,747 crore(US$5.91 billion), the cost of units 3 & 4 is twice the cost of units 1 & 2, .
Background
An Inter-Governmental Agreement (IGA) on the project was signed on 20 November 1988 by then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and then Soviet head of state Mikhail Gorbachev, for the construction of two reactors. The project remained in limbo for a decade due to the dissolution of the Soviet Union.[5] There were also objections from the United States, on the grounds that the agreement did not meet the 1992 terms of the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG).[9] M R Srinivasan,Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) Chairman from 1987 to 1990, called the project "a non-starter". However, the project was revived on 21 June 1998.[5]
Construction
Construction began on 31 March 2002, with Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd (NPCIL) predicting that the first unit would be operational in March 2007, instead of the original target of December 2007.[5]
A small port became operational in Kudankulam on 14 January 2004. This port was established to receive barges carrying over-sized light water reactor equipment from ships anchored at a distance of 1.5 kilometres (0.93 mi). Until 2004, materials had to be brought in via road from the port of Thoothududi, risking damage during transportation.[10] In 2008, negotiations on building four additional reactors at the site began. Though the capacity of these reactors has not been declared, it was expected that the capacity of each reactor will be 1,200 MW or 1.2 GW.[11][12] The new reactors would bring the total capacity of the power plant to 6,800 MW or 6.8 GW.
Commissioning of Unit 1
The first reactor of the plant attained criticality on 13 July 2013 at 11:05 pm.[13]
KKNPP was first synchronised to grid at 2:45 am on 22 October 2013.[14] Power generation from first nuclear reactor started on the same day. Unit 1 was operating at 73% capacity (680 MW) by April 2014.[15] Unit 1 attained its maximum capacity of 1,000 MWe at 1:20 pm on 7 June 2014 and started commercial operation from 31 December 2014.[16] Till April 2015, KNPP-1 generated 2,783 GW·h of electricity at 97% capacity factor.
Commissioning of Unit 2
Unit 2 achieved first criticality on July 10, 2016. Unit 2 is the second 1,000 MW unit to go critical in India. It was grid-connected in August.[17] Commercial operation is planned beginning 2017. [18]
Construction of Units 3 and 4
The ground-breaking ceremony for construction of units 3 & 4 was performed on 17 February 2016. Work is expected to begin in April 2016.
Design and specification
The reactors are pressurised water reactor of russian design, model VVER-1000/V-412 referred also as AES-92. Thermal capacity is 3,000 MWt and gross electrical capacity is 1,000 MWe. Net capacity is 917 MWe.[20] Construction is by NPCIL and Atomstroyexport. When completed the plant will become the largest nuclear power generation complex in India producing a cumulative 2 GW of electric power.[21] Both units are water-cooled, water-moderated power reactors.
Four more reactors are set to be added to this plant under a memorandum of intent signed in 2008.[26] A firm agreement on setting up two more reactors was postponed.[27]
Operations
Reactor 1 was to begin supplying power to the Central Grid by end of August 2013.[28]
The Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) board members have approved signing of a power purchase agreement (PPA) with the Nuclear Power Corporation of India (NPCIL) for sourcing electricity from the Kudankulam nuclear power project (KKNPP).
Unit 1 was shut down in June 2015 for refuelling and annual maintenance. On 21 January 2016 the reactor restarted and was connected to grid on 30 January 2016.[29] Only three weeks later, unit 1 was stopped due to a leakage in a steam pipe.
Opposition
In 2011, thousands from the vicinity of the plant protested against it, fearing a nuclear disaster.[31] According to the protesters, evacuation of people in the event of a nuclear disaster would be impossible.[32] According to S P Udayakumar, of the People's Movement Against Nuclear Energy, "the nuclear plant is unsafe". However, in 2012, the chief of India's nuclear energy programme, Dr Srikumar Banerjee, called the plant "one of the safest" in the world.[33] In December 2012, The Hindureported that hundreds of villagers in the region were largely ignorant of the risks and benefits of the plant.
A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) was filed in 2011 with the Supreme Court asking for nuclear power development to be delayed until safety concerns were independently assessed. In May 2013, the Supreme Court ruled in favour of the plant, stating that the nuclear power plant was in the larger public interest.
In March 2012, nearly 200 anti-nuclear protesters were detained for a few hours by the police. The protesters were set to join protests objecting resumption of work of one of two 1 GW reactors, a day after the local government restarted work on the project.
There have also been rallies and protests in favour of commissioning this nuclear power plant.
On, 24 February 2012, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh blamed foreign NGOs for protests at the power plant. News agencies reported that three NGOs had diverted donations earmarked for religious and social causes to the protests, in violation of foreign exchange regulations.
Supporters of the power plant in Idinthakarai village have been targeted by opponents using improvised explosive devices.
Role of Christian organisations
In March 2012, officials from the Ministry of Home Affairs investigated two Christian organisations for supporting the protest against the KKNPP.The Church of South India, The Catholic Bishops Conference of India and the National Council of Churches openly oppose the KKNPP. Videos showing the deformities caused by nuclear accidents were shown at a church in Idinthakarai.Union Minister of State V. Narayanasamy said that three non-governmental organisations (NGOs) had their permission to foreign funding revoked by the government for supporting the protests. The role of Church has also come under the scrutiny. The pro-government calls the movement “Church-orchestrated” and foreign funded.
Response from officials
Former chairman of Atomic Energy Commission of India Srinivasan said, "The Fukushima plant was built on a beach-front, but the Kudankulam was constructed on a solid terrain and that too keeping all the safety aspects in mind. Also, we are not in a tsunami prone area. The plants in Kudankulam have a double containment system which can withstand high pressure. At least ₹14,000 crore has been spent. If we don't operate the plant immediately, it will affect the economic stability of our country".
A centre panel constituted by the Government of India, which did a survey of the safety features in the plant, vouched for the safety of the Kudankulam reactors. Dr Muthunayagam, who headed the panel, said that the protesters asked for some documents which are not related to the safety of the reactor. Nuclear scientist and principal scientific adviser to the federal Government of India Rajagopala Chidambaram has said "We have learnt lessons from the Fukushima nuclear accident, particularly on the post-shut-down cooling system", and also added Fukushima nuclear accident should not deter or inhibit India from pursuing a safe civil nuclear programme.
The Tamil Nadu state government formed a four-member expert panel which submitted a report to the government after inspecting the safety features of the plant. The Tamil Nadu government in the wake of the acute power shortages in the state has ordered in favour of the commissioning of the plant.
Allocation of power
Government of India announced the power allocation from the two units of the reactor on 29 August 2013.
| Beneficiary | Power (MW) |
|---|---|
| Tamil Nadu | 925 MW |
| Karnataka | 442 MW |
| Kerala | 266 MW |
| Puducherry | 67 MW |
| Not allocated | 300 MW |
| Total | 2,000 MW |
Tamil Nadu may get another 100 MW over its allocation.
Nuclear Power Corporation of India
http://www.npcil.nic.in/
The Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) is a government-owned corporation of India based inMumbai in the state of Maharashtra. It is wholly owned by the Central Government and is responsible for the generation of nuclear power for electricity. NPCIL is administered by the Department of Atomic Energy, Govt. of India (DAE).
NPCIL was created in September 1987 under the Companies Act 1956, "with the objective of undertaking the design, construction, operation and maintenance of the atomic power stations for generation of electricity in pursuance of the schemes and programmes of the Government of India under the provision of the Atomic Energy Act 1962." All nuclear power plants operated by the company are certified for ISO-14001 (Environment Management System).
NPCIL was the sole body responsible for constructing and operating India's commercial nuclear power plants till setting up of BHAVINI ( Bharatiya Nabhikiya Vidyut Nigam ) in October 2003. As of 10 August 2012 the company had 21nuclear reactors in operation at seven locations, a total installed capacity of 5780 MWe.[4][5] Subsequent to the government's decision to allow private companies to provide nuclear power, the company has experienced problems with private enterprises "poaching" its employees.
Nuclear plants
Operational
| Unit | Type | Capacity (MWe) | Since |
|---|---|---|---|
| TAPS-1 (Tarapur, Maharashtra) | BWR | 160 | 28 October 1969 |
| TAPS-2 (Tarapur, Maharashtra) | BWR | 160 | 28 October 1969 |
| TAPS-3 (Tarapur, Maharashtra) | PHWR | 540 | 18 August 2006 |
| TAPS-4 (Tarapur, Maharashtra) | PHWR | 540 | 15 September 2005 |
| RAPS-1 (Rawatbhata, Rajasthan) | PHWR | 100 | 16 December 1973 |
| RAPS-2 (Rawatbhata, Rajasthan) | PHWR | 200 | 1 April 1981 |
| RAPS-3 (Rawatbhata, Rajasthan) | PHWR | 220 | 1 June 2000 |
| RAPS-4 (Rawatbhata, Rajasthan) | PHWR | 220 | 23 December 2000 |
| RAPS-5 (Rawatbhata, Rajasthan) | PHWR | 220 | 4 February 2010 |
| RAPS-6 (Rawatbhata, Rajasthan) | PHWR | 220 | 31 March 2010 |
| MAPS-1 (Kalpakkam, Tamil Nadu) | PHWR | 220 | 27 January 1984 |
| MAPS-2 (Kalpakkam, Tamil Nadu) | PHWR | 220 | 21 March 1986 |
| NAPS-1 (Narora, Uttar Pradesh) | PHWR | 220 | 1 January 1991 |
| NAPS-2 (Narora, Uttar Pradesh) | PHWR | 220 | 1 July 1992 |
| KAPS-1 (Kakrapar, Gujarat) | PHWR | 220 | 6 May 1993 |
| KAPS-2 (Kakrapar, Gujarat) | PHWR | 220 | 1 September 1995 |
| KGS-1 (Kaiga, Karnataka) | PHWR | 220 | 6 November 2000 |
| KGS-2 (Kaiga, Karnataka) | PHWR | 220 | 6 May 2000 |
| KGS-3 (Kaiga, Karnataka) | PHWR | 220 | 6 May 2007 |
| KGS-4 (Kaiga, Karnataka) | PHWR | 220 | 27 November 2010 |
| KKNPP-1 (Kudankulam, Tamil Nadu) | VVER | 1000 | 22 October 2013 |
| KNPP-2 (Kudankulam, Tamil Nadu) | VVER | 1000 | July-2016 |
| Total Capacity | 6780 |
Under construction
| Unit Under Construction | Type | Capacity (MWe) | Expected Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| KAPS-3 (Kakrapar, Gujarat) | PHWR | 700 | July-2016[7] |
| KAPS-4 (Kakrapar, Gujarat) | PHWR | 700 | Dec-2016[7] |
| RAPS-7 (Rawatbhata, Rajasthan) | PHWR | 700 | August-2016[8] |
| RAPS-8 (Rawatbhata, Rajasthan) | PHWR | 700 | Dec-2016[8] |
| Total Capacity | 3800 |
Proposed
| Power Plant | Type | Capacity (MWe) | Expected Commissioning Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jaitapur in Maharashtra | EPR | 9900 (6x1650 MW) | 2019 |
| Gorakhpur in Haryana | PHWR | 2800 (4x700 MW) | 2021 |
| Mithi Virdi in Gujarat | LWR | 6000 (6 x 1000 MW) | |
| Kovvada in Andhra Pradesh | ESBWR | 6000 (6 x 1000 MW) | |
| Chutka in Madhya Pradesh | PHWR | 1400 (2 x 700 MW) | |
| Bhimpur, Shivpuri in Madhya Pradesh | PHWR | 2800 (4 x 700 MW) | |
| Total Capacity | 28900 |
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